After finishing the steamed bun and a few pieces of beef jerky, Shen Jingyao was full.
She sat waiting for Zhou Muyan to return. Bored, she casually plucked a green blade of grass from the roadside and began fiddling with it in her hand.
When Zhou Jianghe arrived at the roadside and saw Shen Jingyao sitting alone under the tree, his face lit up with delight.
He had specifically come during the gap when Zhou Muyan went to eat, and sure enough, he wasn’t around.
Zhou Jianghe reached into his pocket and touched the warm egg inside. His somewhat dark face broke into what he thought was a dashing and handsome smile.
He walked toward the tree where Shen Jingyao was sitting, his heart pounding wildly. This was the first time he had taken the initiative to speak to a girl, and he was unbearably nervous.
Seeing someone approach, Shen Jingyao tossed away the blade of grass in her hand, stood up, and brushed off her clothes.
“Hello, Educated Youth Shen,” Zhou Jianghe greeted her as he approached, his face flushed dark red.
Shen Jingyao nodded politely. “Hello.”
She recognized him. He was a little over 1.7 meters tall, with fairly upright features that fit the aesthetic of the era. He also seemed to be a Xiao Dui Zhang.
Hearing her soft voice, Zhou Jianghe’s heart beat even faster.
He took the egg from his pocket, placed it in his palm, and offered it to Shen Jingyao. Excitedly, he said, “Educated Youth Shen, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I have an egg here for you.”
This egg was one he had secretly gone home to retrieve, pried open his mother’s cabinet where she stored fine grains, and stealthily boiled.
He thought that since the food in the countryside was poor, Shen Jingyao would surely appreciate the egg. If she accepted it, it would definitely mean she was willing to be in a relationship with him.
Shen Jingyao looked at the egg in his hand, her brow furrowing tightly. She understood his intentions.
She quickly waved her hands and refused sternly, “No need, comrade. I’ve already eaten. This egg is precious—you should keep it for yourself.”
Seeing Shen Jingyao reject the egg, Zhou Jianghe grew anxious and reached out to grab her hand, wanting to place the egg in her palm.
The moment he stretched out his hand, Shen Jingyao hurriedly stepped back two paces, her expression displeased and her tone turning colder and sharper. “Comrade, I said I don’t want your egg. Please show some self-respect.”
Zhou Jianghe also realized his behavior was inappropriate and had offended Shen Jingyao.
Having attended junior high school, he was different from the average uneducated rural man.
His face flushed crimson, and he stammered, “S-sorry, Educated Youth Shen. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just wanted you to accept this egg.”
He now wanted to beat himself up for handling things so poorly. Educated Youth Shen must surely dislike him now.
Shen Jingyao let out a sigh of relief and said expressionlessly, “I hope this doesn’t happen again. I won’t take your egg. Please take it back and eat it yourself.”
Since there was no possibility of accepting his advances, she shouldn’t do anything that might lead to misunderstandings.
After speaking, she turned her back to him but remained mentally alert. If he tried anything, she could react promptly.
Zhou Jianghe’s hands dropped in disappointment. Educated Youth Shen had rejected him.
He muttered softly, “Okay,” then walked away dejectedly.
His first attempt to show affection to a girl had ended in failure, and his heart ached terribly.
On the way, he happened to run into Zhou Muyan, who was heading back. Seeing him, Zhou Jianghe abruptly shed his despondent demeanor and lifted his head high.
He let out a loud “Hmph!” Even if he was rejected, he couldn’t lose his pride in front of Zhou Muyan.
He had lost to Zhou Muyan again. Back in the village, only he and Zhou Muyan had made it to middle school, so everyone always compared them.
Later, Zhou Muyan tested into high school, while he didn’t.
Then, when there was a recruitment drive in the city, Zhou Muyan didn’t take the exam, but he did.
He thought he would become a worker and finally hold his head high, leaving Zhou Muyan in the dust forever.
But he failed the exam and had to return to the village to farm, while Zhou Muyan became Xiao Dui Zhang, and he didn’t.
So he begged his father to help him become Xiao Dui Zhang, and they were back on equal footing.
Now, facing the girl he liked, he had lost again.
Zhou Muyan was simply his nemesis. From now on, he never wanted to see him again, wuwuwu…
Zhou Muyan was baffled by his huff, thinking Zhou Jianghe was having another episode.
Zhou Jianghe reminded him of the neighbor’s kid from his modern life—every time they met, the kid had a sour expression.
What a weirdo!
Zhou Muyan turned and walked away cheerfully. He was going to find Yao Yao.
When Shen Jingyao saw Zhou Muyan return, her delicate face broke into a radiant smile.
The next second, she pouted and started tattling, “A Yan, just now someone came over and tried to give me eggs. How strange!”
Then she changed her tone, her glass-like eyes sparkling, her petite face pink and fair. “But I didn’t take his eggs. Aren’t I good?”
Zhou Muyan’s expression cleared, and he gently pinched her soft cheek, coaxing her dotingly, “Yao Yao is so good. Remember, you can’t accept anything from anyone but me, okay?”
“I know that,” Shen Jingyao chided him with a glance. Did he really think she was the kind of girl who could be won over with an egg?
“A Yan, you’re really underestimating me.”
Zhou Muyan smiled. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Yao Yao—he didn’t trust other men.
Zhou Muyan narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within.
No wonder Zhou Jianghe had given him that look earlier. It had to be that guy.
How bold of him to dare offer Yao Yao eggs. It seemed it was time to give him a taste of the Hessian sack.
Some time later, on his way to the commune, Zhou Jianghe was ambushed, stuffed into a Hessian sack, and beaten up.
There were no visible wounds, but every punch was painfully sore, leaving him bedridden for days.
He suspected it might be Zhou Muyan, but upon inquiry, he learned that Zhou Muyan had been in the mountains that day and hadn’t gone to the commune.
The whole incident was too humiliating to publicize, so for a long time afterward, Zhou Jianghe didn’t dare go to the commune again.
But that’s a story for later.
Zhou Muyan was back, and Shen Jingyao dozed off on the silk scarf for half an hour as usual.
Her habit of taking afternoon naps started in her modern life. Even in winter, she needed to rest for half an hour, or she’d feel sluggish all afternoon.
Zhou Muyan had brought a straw hat today. He held it in his hand, fanning her gently, his face filled with blissful contentment.
At noon, everyone took this time to rest, so no one would wander over casually.
He leaned down and softly kissed her pale, delicate cheek—so soft and supple. It felt wonderful.
Shen Jingyao, half-asleep, felt her face tickle. She waved a hand and mumbled, “A Yan, stop fooling around.”
Zhou Muyan heard what she said, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he spoke softly, “Sleep now, I won’t tease you anymore.”
Yet the motion of his hand fanning her never ceased.